Prior to the elections the next year, INEC advised political actors to guarantee issue-based campaigning.
Additionally, the panel pledged to make the general election in 2023 free, fair, credible, open to all, inclusive, and verifiable.
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of INEC, also encouraged political actors to refrain from using derogatory or hateful rhetoric that could lead to physical attacks against supporters.
Yakubu also asked the media to restrain political discourse and steer clear of unimportant topics.
He spoke at the fourth sensitization forum on political broadcasting, with the theme: “Towards a fair and responsible broadcast coverage of the 2023 general elections; a multi stakeholders dialogue.”
Urging stakeholder to behave within the law, Yakubu said: “I am convinced that the media has a huge responsibility. We have all been talking about issue-based campaigns. I believe that the media has a critical role to play in this respect. Equitable access for all political parties and candidates is essential to the promotion of issue-based campaigns.
“The media plays a critical role in ensuring a more effective public enlightenment on the provision of the Electoral Act 2022 in particular, and other aspects of the electoral process in general.
“In the next two days, campaigns by political parties in public as provided by Section 94, Sub-section One of the Electorate Act, will officially commence nationwide. This means that over the next five months or so, political parties, candidates and their supporters will traverse the country canvassing for votes. They will engage in media appearances, and hold town hall meetings, door to door campaigns, rallies and processions. This period is often characterised by excitement, but it is also characterised by anxiety.
“Therefore, political parties, candidates and their supporters, as well as the media have a responsibility to operate within the confines of the law and the provisions of the Commission’s regulations and guidelines.
“Issue-based campaigns are essential for safe elections. In turn, this will create the atmosphere for the successful deployment and conduct of all electoral activities.
“Campaign should be devoid of hate speech, abusive, ill-tempered or slanderous language, insinuations or innuendos likely to provoke violent reaction, physical attack on supporters of one party by another or the destruction of campaign materials.
“I believe that the media has a critical role to play in this respect. Equitable access for all political parties and candidates is essential to the promotion of issue based campaigns.
“By doing so, the media will also steer the discussion and engage the candidates away from the mundane to the critical issues that matter to citizens. Consequently, the public will be in a better position to make informed decisions on election day.”
Yakubu reminded political figures and broadcasters of the new electoral regulations’ penalties and added that those who violate them would face legal action.
He said: “Most specifically, Section 95 of the Electoral Act defines the responsibilities of political parties and candidates, the media and public institutions; they also provide sanctions for violations. For instance, in the course of our numerous interactions with political parties over the years, many of them have complained about the denial of access to public facilities for their meetings or rallies, exorbitant charges of signages and billboards and equal access to the state media.
“Using the power of incumbency, to deny opposition parties access to public facilities is outrightly illegal. Section 95, Sub-sections 2,3,4,5 and 6 are unambiguous”.
Yakubu also urged the media to “continue to fact check stories before going to press.”
Abdulrasheed Bawa, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), encouraged journalists to refrain from disruptive activity that would violate electoral rules and result in jail time.
Nwaja further mentioned that the EFCC is actively involved in the election funding controversy.
He said: “The EFCC is actively engaged in the issue of election campaign funding by financial and nonfinancial institutions, as captured under the Money Laundering Prohibition and Prevention Act 120, 22.”
Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, the director general of the National Broadcasting Commission, urged broadcasters to provide all political actors, registered political parties, and candidates with equal access to the media and chances.
He said: “Broadcasters are also to handle all political matters with care and due professionalism. This is in addition to studio-based live broadcast, interviews and advert.
“I also use this opportunity to remind broadcasters not to allow any form of hate speech, fake news, derogatory or divisive remarks and any incinary broadcast on their platforms. NBC is not going to take it lightly with any situation; if you want to remain until the end of the election, you must make sure that you operate within the law and if you want to end your broadcast before the end of the election, you can go ahead and break the law. NBC will not fold its arms to see things done in a wrong way.”
